Patent US3559827A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3559827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automotive towing unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-06-04
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1989-06-04
Abstract
Abstract This towing unit is a self-contained independent unit having its own battery and reversible electric motor operated hoist controlled by the operator with a two-battery switch block connected with the battery and motor through a long enough flexible cable to enable the operator to stand as close to or far from the work as he prefers or considers best. The tow frame, which is carried on two caster wheels that are spaced farther apart than the front wheels of a car and are detachable lockable in a fixed parallel relationship for steering is connectable to a tow car or truck with a conventional trailer hitch, and when uncoupled has its front end supported on a wheeled trailer jack. The frame has a upright generally rectangular frame or rack on its rear end onto which the end of a car to be towed is hoisted by pulley and cable means connected with a cable windlass driven in either direction by the electric motor through reduction gearing, the hoisted car being attached by chains to the rack at a selected elevation to transfer the weight to the chains and use the latter for towing. The caster wheels are carried in spring forks to cushion the load in transit.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis E Schier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/12; B60P3/125; B60P3/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
In a towing unit for automotive vehicles, a pair of wheels for rolling support of the unit, a frame on which said wheels are spaced farther apart laterally of the frame than the wheels of a conventional motor vehicle to be towed, the frame front including a substantially vertical rack, and a substantially horizontal Vshaped hitch portion extending forwardly from the lower portion of said rack and having means on its forward end for detachable pivotal connection with a towing vehicle, pulley means on the upper end of said rack, hoisting mechanism on the hitch portion of said frame including a windlass, a reversible electric motor drivingly connected with said windlass through reduction gearing, a battery furnishing a separate source of power for operation of a said electric motor, and a switch block having a flexible control cable extending therefrom and connected to said battery and motor for remote control of the latter in the operation of said windlass, a hoisting cable extending over said pulley means and connected with said windlass on the one hand to wind upon or be unwound from the same accordingly as one or the other of two buttons on the switch block is depressed, a pulley block connected with the other end of said cable to be raised and lowered relative to said rack and carrying a hook connectable with vehicle hoisting chain means detachably connectable with one end portion of a vehicle to be hoisted and towed, and a pair of load supporting chains detachable and each adjustably connectable and at one end to the opposite sides of said rack at any one of a plurality of vertically spaced points and connectable at their other ends with the aforesaid hoisting chain means, whereby to permit securing the hoisted end of the vehicle to be towed to the rack by said pair of load supporting chains for support thereof and also towing thereof independently of said hoisting cable when the latter is unwound from said windlass sufficiently to transfer the weight to said pair of load supporting chains.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
In a towing unit for automotive vehicles, a pair of wheels for rolling support of the unit, a frame on which said wheels are spaced farther apart laterally of the frame than the wheels of a conventional motor vehicle to be towed, the frame front including a substantially vertical rack, and a substantially horizontal Vshaped hitch portion extending forwardly from the lower portion of said rack and having means on its forward end for detachable pivotal connection with a towing vehicle, pulley means on the upper end of said rack, hoisting mechanism on the hitch portion of said frame including a windlass, a reversible electric motor drivingly connected with said windlass through reduction gearing, a battery furnishing a separate source of power for operation of a said electric motor, and a switch block having a flexible control cable extending therefrom and connected to said battery and motor for remote control of the latter in the operation of said windlass, a hoisting cable extending over said pulley means and connected with said windlass on the one hand to wind upon or be unwound from the same accordingly as one or the other of two buttons on the switch block is depressed, a pulley block connected with the other end of said cable to be raised and lowered relative to said rack and carrying a hook connectable with vehicle hoisting chain means detachably connectable with one end portion of a vehicle to be hoisted and towed, and a pair of load supporting chains detachable and each adjustably connectable and at one end to the opposite sides of said rack at any one of a plurality of vertically spaced points and connectable at their other ends with the aforesaid hoisting chain means, whereby to permit securing the hoisted end of the vehicle to be towed to the rack by said pair of load supporting chains for support thereof and also towing thereof independently of said hoisting cable when the latter is unwound from said windlass sufficiently to transfer the weight to said pair of load supporting chains.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pair of wheels are caster wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pari of wheels are caster wheels and the rack is substantially in the same plane with the vertical swivel axes of said wheels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 including a trailer jack on the forward end portion of said hitch portion of said frame lowerable relative to the same to a position providing with said pair of wheels a third point of support for the frame structure when uncoupled from the towing vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pair of wheels are caster wheels, and jack having a caster wheel on the lower end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 2 including means for detachable securing the caster wheels in rigid right-angle relation to said rack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 2 including means for detachably securing the caster wheels in rigid right-angle relation to said rack, and spring-pressed detent means on the frame cooperating with the swivels of said caster wheels for releasably holding said wheel in right-angle relationship to said rack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last-mentioned pair of chains is detachably and adjustably connectable at the trailing end to the hoisting chain means. 9. A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last mentioned pair of chains is detachably and adjustably connectable at the trailing end to the hoisting chain means at the opposite end of a bumper bOttom-engaging support bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last mentioned pair of chains is detachably and adjustably connectable at the trailing end to the hoisting chain means at the opposite end of a bumper bottom-engaging support bar, the hoisting chain means including another pair of chains having hooks at one end for detachable connection to the frame structure of a vehicle to be towed and having adjustable detachable connections at the other end to the opposite ends of said bar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A two towing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rack having provided on opposite sides thereof a plurality of vertically spaced keyhole slots, through the large ends of which the forward ends of the pair of load-supporting chains are adapted to be extended for detachably and adjustably securing the chains to said rack at a selected elevation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said caster wheels has a spring cushion fork for mounting the same on the frame, whereby to cushion road shock in the towing of a vehicle, one end of which is hoisted and supported on said rack in trailing relation thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 9 wherein the rack is of generally rectangular form and of a width approximately the same as the length of the bumper bottom-engaging support bar, said rack having lateral extensions on opposite sides of the lower portion thereof providing supports on the outer ends thereof for the wheels that provide rolling support of the unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A towing unit as set forth in claim 1 including means for vertically adjustably mounting the detachable pivotal connection on the front end of the V-shaped hitch portion of said frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |